Automatically controlled, multi-way, rotary plate valve



Jan. 15, 1957 A. Y. STIRLING 2,777,515

A AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED, MULTI-WAY, ROTARY ELATE VALVE Filed Sept. 24, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Mill! 3nventor:

ALBERT Y. STIRLING Jan- 15, 1957 A. Y. STIRLING 2,777,515

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED, MULTI-WAY, RQTARY PLATE VALVE Filed Sept. 24, 1953' s Sheets-Sheet 5 480A 530; ST F/G. /Z.

RS ET B RST DTl DTZ aw i;

T Sofr Water T 2 I /2 5m Softener Brine /a P /5-:(]: Tank I J l /3-/ Soft \lo Br|ne{w /}4 United States Patent AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED, MULTI-WAY, ROTARY PLATE VALVE Albert Y. Stirling, Salt Lake City, Utah Application September 24, 1953, Serial No. 382,107

4 Claims. (Cl. 161-7) This invention relates to multi-way valves as constructed for automatic operation, and is concerned particularly with what is often referred to as multi-port, lift turn, plate valves.

Valves of the specified particular type have been developed to a high degree of perfection for the regulation of base exchange Water softeners, which require brine regeneration of the exchange material periodically. They are compact in construction, and provide the required multi-way flow control by means of a single manually-controlled, operating handle. 7

It is highly desirable, however, that the regeneration of water softeners be controlled automatically, and there are various water softeners on the market constructed especially for automatic operation. Yet' none of these embody the desirable, positive, through-flow action which characterizes manually controlled equipment.

A principal object of the present invention is, then, to construct an automatically controlled, multi-port, socalled lift turn, plate valve with a minimum of modification of existing valve mechanism.

In this connection, it is another object of the invention to provide for positive and precise automatic operation which will meet the requirements of periodic regeneration of water softeners.

A further concern of the invention is to provide automatic control mechanism which is simple in construction and operation, and which will perform satisfactorily with a minimum of maintenance over long periods of time.

In the accomplishment of these objectives, timed actuating mechanism is applied to the valve stem of a conventional multiport, lift turn, rotary plate valve, for the purpose of both rotating and"lifting the standard, ported valve plate conventionally mounted upon such stem, in suitably timed sequence'necessary'to regulate the diverse flows required for water softener regeneration or for the control of any other apparatus involving similar problems.

A feature of the inventionresides in the combination, with such valve and with the automatically controlled mechanism for lifting the valve plate, of a lost motion drive mechanism for preventing rotation of the valve plate as it is being lifted away from the valve seats, and, further, of mechanism for limiting rotation of the valve plate to a predetermined extent, on any given re-setting of the valve, so that re-setting of the valve plate relative to the valve seats is precisely regulated.

A further feature resides in the provision for equalization of the water pressure on opposite sides of the valve plate, so that resistance to lifting movement thereof is minimized. v

Additional objects and features of vthe invention, together with the various novel details of construction are dealt with in the following description of thepresently preferred specific embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of exemplifying various possible constructions covering the essentialinventive concepts disclosed.

. 2,777,515 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 2 In the drawings: Fig. 1 represents a top plan view of the valve as positioned in the water softening system illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 13, it being noted that the so-called lifting of the valve plate is not in an upward direction in this installed position of the valve;

Fig. 2, a transverse section taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the valve plate in a seated position relative to the valve seats; I

Fig. 4, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 3, butillustrating the valve plate in an unseated or so-called lifted position relative to the valve seats;

'Fig. 5, a transverse section taken along the line 5-5 of Pig. 1;

Fig. 6, a transverse section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showing the lost motion drive mechanism in detail and at a position corresponding to the seated position of the valve plate, as illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 7, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 6, but showing the position of the mechanism for the unseated position of the valve plate illustrated in 'Fig. 4, the valve plate having been rotated into newly aligned position relative to the several valve seats, and the lost motion position of the parts being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 9, a detail in longitudinal section taken along the 1 line 9 of Fig. 2, showing the pressure equalization structure in detail;

Fig. 10, a fragmentary view in side elevation of timer cam and associated switches of the timer mechanism shown symbolically in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11, a bottom plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1i);

Fig. 12, awiring diagram; and

Fig. 13, a diagrammatic presentation of a preferred installation of the valve in a water softener system.

Referring to the drawings:

The automatically controlled valve of the invention is illustrated from the standpoint of its preferred positioning in a water softening system, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13, the various components of the system being as indicated on the diagram.

As so positioned, thelongitudinal dimension of the valve extends horizontally, rather than vertically, and the so-called lifting action of the valve plate, as usually referred to in thistype of valve, may be more accurately referred to as retraction of the valve plate from seated position. v

*In the preferred form. illustrated, the valve of the, invention embodies a valve body it) and internal valve mechanism which are largely conventional in construcj able piping arranged to conduct liquid into and out of the valve. These several passages communicate mutually through an internal chamber 16 of the valve body, by way of respective valve ports 17, 18, 19, and 20 and the centrall'y disposed port 21, thereby providing multiple flow ways for the valve; Flexible-resilient valve seats 22' ex-.

tend into valve chamber 16 from the respective ports 17,

18, 19, and being held in place by respective ferrules 23, see Fig. 3.

Within the valve chamber 16 is mounted a valve plate stem and plate 24 periodically, as determined by the sequence of operations necessary in the regenerationof the zeolite or other base exchange material in the softener tank.

For this purpose, the exterior face of that end wall of valve body 10 through which the stem 25 extends is provided with a circumferential series of mutually spaced, outwardly extending cam members 30, forming a circulartrackway of hill and valley character for a correspondingly circumferential series of rollers 31, which are individually rotatably afiixed to a disk 32 serving as a carriage, which, in turn, is journaled on an outer end portion of valve stem 25. Such disk or carriage 32 is retained in position by means of a contiguous hub 33, atiixed to stem 25, as by means of a pin 34, Fig. 1. Thus,

rotation of hub 33 will not only effect rotation of valve stem 25 and valve plate 24, but will, with the aid of spring 35, Figs. 3 and 4, eltect reciprocative movement thereof in correspondence with the several hills and valleys of the circular trackway, it being noted that the spring 35 normally urges plate 24 toward the several valve seats, and that it becomes efiective to seat plate 24 thereon when the rollers drop into the valleys between cams of the trackway. As illustrated, the valleys are deeper than necessary to eliminate the need for close tolerances in manufacture of the valve, and to enable spring 35 to press valve plate 24 tightly against the several flexible seats 22.

For the purpose of controlling the various settings of the valve plate 24 relative to the several valve seats 22, a circumferential series of four cam members 30 and four rollers 31, see Figs. 6 and 7, are provided. It should be realized, however, that two rollers could be satisfactorily employed as a minimum, since these rollers are provided merely for the purpose of moving the disk 32 in conformity with the undulations of the camming trackway.

In order to minimize wear and to permit the use of a relatively small drive motor, for example M horsepower, it is a purpose of the invention that the valve plate not rotate while there is an excessive compressional force holding it against its seats. Accordingly, the hub 33 is rotated by means of a drive mechanism embodying provision for limited lost motion, and means are provided for insuring proper alignment of the valve plates relative to its several valve seats, regardless of the lost motion.

As illustrated in ,Figs. 1, 3, and 4, a main drive gear 36 is driven by a piniongear powered by an electric motor through a suitable speed reducer in well known manner, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. The drive gear 36 is mounted for rotation by means of a shaft 38, which extendsthrough and is journaled in a foundation plate 39. The valve body 10 is rigidly supported on the foundation plate 39 by means of legs 40 in predetermined spaced and opposing relation to gear 36, and a pair of drive posts 41 project into rigid connection with disc 32 from'diametrically spaced and rigid securement to drive gear 36. Thus disc 32 rotates in unison with drive. gear 36.

To provide the desired lost motion between drive gear 36 and hub 33, the hub is connected-to the disc 32 by means of alost motion arrangement,-which; in the particular instance here illustrated, is of resilient character, being made up of a spiral spring 42 anchored at one of its ends to the hub 33, as indicated at 43, Fig. 7, and anchored at its other end to the disc 32, as by means of a pin .4 projecting rigidly from such disc 32. Thus when disc 32 is rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 6 (which shows the position of the partswhen valve plate 24 is seated, as in Fig. 3), the spring 42 absorbs the rotation and stores'the energy thereof until the circular movement of disc 32 carrics'the rollers 31 from their valley positions sufiiciently far up the inclined surfaces 30a of the earns 30 to relieve the compressional force holding valve plate 24 against its several seats 22. When friction between valve plate 24 and its valve seats 22 is sufficiently reduced by reason of the retractive movement of such valve plate, brought about by the dotted position of the parts in Fig. 7, the energy stored in spiral spring 42 becomes effective to rotate hub 33, valve stem 25, and valve plate 24 in the direction of the arrow and to the newly aligned position established by pin 44 of disc 32, see the full-line position of the parts in Fig. 7, there being an aligning pin 45. projecting rigidly outwardly into the rotative path ofa pin 44 from fixed securement to the hub 33 as illustrated.

The valve is operated automatically by the electric motor shown symbolically in Fig. 1, and such motor is controlled electrically by timer mechanism connected in the electrical supply circuit and by auxiliary switching mechanism mechanically associated with drive gear 36. The timer mechanism may be of conventional construction, and, except for the timer cam and associated switches shown in-Figs. 10 and Hand indicated in the wiring dia gram of Fig. '12, is here shown only symbolically in Fig. l.

The auxiliary switching mechanism controls the positioning of the valveplate 24, relative to the several seats 22, for establishing flow in desired directions through the valve at any given time. ltincludes a rotary cam plate 46, Figs. '1 and 8, rigidly affixed to the projecting end of drive gear shaft 38, so as to rotate in unison with drive gear 36' and with roller-carrying disc 32. For the particularwater softening system of Fig. 13, a double throw switch 47 and a single throw switch 48 are provided in respective positions relative to the cam plate 46 to be mechanically actuated by the latter. A marginal indentation 46a actuates arm 47a of switch 47, which is spring pressed in customary fashion against the rim of cam plate 46, while a pin 49, projecting from a face of the cam plate, actuates arm 48a of switch 48, it being understood that the-carn plate rotates in the direction of the arrow.

The timer cam 50 and its associated switches 51, 52, and 53 determine the times atwhich the motor is permitted tocarry out the valve plate positioning called for by the auxiliary switching mechanism. For this purpose, theswitch .51 is double throw, with its arm. 51a resilientlyurgedtagainst the rim of timer cam 50 for activation by meansof the marginal indentation 50a; the switch 52 .is also double throw, with its arm 52a extending into the pathof rotation of an actuating pin -55, which projectsfrom one face of the timer cam plate 50; and switch 53 isa single throw switch, having its arm 53a extending into the path of rotation of a second actuating pin 54, which proiects'from the. opposite face of the timer cam plate '50, it .being'understood that the latter rotates in the direction of the arrow.

Asnconnected into the water softening system of Fig. 13, passage 12 and its corresponding valve port 17 of the valve carry the untreated hard water (which enters the valve chamber 16 throughpassage 11) to the upper'part of the water softener tank, by way of piping 12-1,-for down flow through the bed of zeolite or other base exchange'material within the tank to an exit through piping 14- 1and,as' softwater, back into the valve body 10 through passage 14 and its corresponding port 19, where it is directed through port 18 and corresponding passage 13 into the service or distribution piping 13-1.

This is the normal service operation of the system, and,

for this purpose, the valve plate 24 is seated in appropriate position with respect to its several valve seats.

Since the construction of the valve per se is well known, no attempt is here made to describe in detail the structural characteristics of valve plate 24 (see particu larly Fig. which enables it to confine and direct the flow as above indicated. Likewise, no attempt is made to illustrate the positions of the valve plate which correspond to the several other operations of the system. Suflice it to say that, in all, the valve plate 24 occupies three different positions during the complete cycle of operation of the water softening system of Fig. 13: one, the service position above-described; two, the brine and rest position; and, three, the rinse or backwash position.

For regeneration purposes, a brine tank, see Fig. 13, has its discharge communicating through piping 26-1 with a venturi 26, see also Fig. 2, so that brine is drawn from. the tank by injector of flow within the valve body itself, as indicated, a check valve CV being interposed in piping 26-1 to project against backflow into the brine tank. When the plate valve 24 is in the brine or. regeneration position, brine passes into the valve body by Way of injector 26 and through the softener tank in the same manner as does the untreated water to be softened, the spent brine going to drainage by way of valve port 20, passage 15, and drain piping -1.

A solenoid valve SV, controlling flow through drain piping 15-1, is normally closed and remains so during the rest part of the brine or number two position of the valve plate 24, as it does, also, for a limited period as the valve plate is being moved from the service position, thereby insuring in conjunction with the structure described hereinafter, that the water pressure on both sides of plate valve 24 is equalized, for the purpose of facilitating retraction of such valve plate from its seated condition.

When the valve plate is seated in its rinse or backwash position, flow of water from supply passage 11 is directed through the softener tank from bottom to top thereof, passing to drainage through valve port 20, passage 15, and piping 15-1, as does the spent brine in the brine position.

For properly controlling the operation of the system through repeated time cycles, the switch-actuating parts of the rotary cam plate 46 and of the timer cam plate 50 are pre-set in appropriate relative positions, considering the respective speeds of rotation thereof.

Assuming the service position of the valve has been maintained throughout a period of time such that the zeolite or other base exchange material in the softener tank is no longer effective to properly soften the hard water passing through it, such time being predetermined largely by the length of the unindented portion of the rim of timer cam plate 50 and the speed of rotation of such cam plate, switch arm 51a drops into indentation 50a, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and makes electrically with contact BT of timer switch 51, see Fig. 12, to close the power supply circuit for the motor at that point. Since switch arm 47a of the auxiliary switch mechanism is held in electrical make with contact RS of switch 47 at this same time, by reason of the position of rotary cam plate 46, see Fig. 8, the valve motor circuit is completely closed and the motor is energized to rotate cam plate 46 until switch arm 47a drops into indentation 46a and electrically makes with contact B, breaking the valve motor circuit at contact RS. Since arm 52a of switch 52 is closed with respect to contact DT1, the solenoid of solenoid valve CV is energized and the valve opened to permit drainage during this brine period, it being realized that it was closed during the change of valve plate 24 from service to brine position.

6 During the rotation of cam plate 46, valve plate 24 is rotated from its service position to its brine and rest position, whereby brine from the brine tank executes a'regenerative flow through the softener tank, as aforedescribed; until pin 55 of timer cam plate 50 actuates switch arm 52a to electrically make with contact DTZ of switch 52 and open the circuit through and de-energize the solenoid of valve SV (it being remembered that 47a now makes with B), thereby closing such valve and initiating the rest period aforedescribed wherein drainage of brine is prevented. The solenoid valve, it should be noted, is normally biased into closed position by both gravity and water pressure. I

The rinse or backwash operation is initiated as switch arm 51a emerges from indentation 50a of timer cam 50 and makes with contact RST, thereby again completing the valve motor circuit, it being realized that switch arm 47a is still in make with contact B, but that the solenoid of valve SV is de-energized and the valve closed. Energization of the valve motor repositions valve plate 24 to rinse or backwash, and, at the same time, rotates cam plate 46 until switch arm 47a emerges from indentation 46a and breaks the circuit by making with contact RS, thereby deenergizing the valve motor, but energizing the solenoid of valve SV to open such valve and permit drainage during the rinsing or backwash operation.

When switch arm 52a drops from pin 54, it closes with respect to contact DT1, thereby de-energizing the solenoid and closing valve SV to stop drainage.

Rinsing or backwashing of the zeolite or other base exchange material in the softener tank is contained until pin 54 of timer cam 50 actuates switch arm 53a to make with contact ST, which again closes the valve motor circuit (switch arm 48a being normally closed). The motor remains energized until cam plate 46 rotates sui'iiciently to bring pin 49 into position to actuate switch arm 48a, and so break with its contact S. During this time, valve plate 24 has been reseated in its original service position, and the regenerative phase of the full operative cycle of the valve completed.

It should be noted that solenoid valve SV need not be closed as valve plate 24 is moved from rinse or backwash position back to service position, and is in fact held open during such time by reason of a closed circuit through contacts S, ST, RST, and DT1 energizing its solenoid.

When valve plate 24 arrives back at its service position, the valve motor circuit and the solenoid circuit are broken at contact S, which stops the valve motor and en ables valve SV to close off drainage.

For equalizing the pressure on both sides of valve plate 24 at such times as valve SV closes oft drainage and the valve plate is to be moved either from service to brine position or from the rest portion of brine position to rinse or backwash position, a bypass passage 56, Fig. 2 is provided between main valve flow passages 14 and 15 and their respectively corresponding ports 19 and 20.

As is conventional in the valve proper of the present combination, a bypass passage 57, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, provides for flow of untreated water into the service or distribution piping 13-1 at such times as the valve plate 24 is in brine or rinse positions.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated with respect to a particular preferred form thereof, it should be realized that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the claims which here follow.

' I claim:

1. In combination with a multi-way, rotary plate valve, which includes a stationary valve body provided with an internal chamber, a plurality of inlet and outlet flow passages communicating with said chamber by way of respective ports provided with valve-seating means, and a valve plate within said chamber comprehendingthe said ports, said valve plate being affixed to a valve stem which projects through said valve body exteriorly of the said chamber for both rotative and reciprocative movement in the selective seating and unseatingof said valve plate relative to said valve-seating means; automatic control structure, comprising aflcamrning trackway concentrically encircling'the exteriorly'projecting portion of said valve stem, said-trackway'being made up of a pluralityof cam memberssecured to and projecting outwardly from the said valve body in mutually spaced relationship such that the spaces between cam members correspond with respective seatedpositions of said valve plate; a rotating carriage journaled on said exteriorly projecting portion of the valve stem in juxtapositionto saidtrackway; a plurality of rollers individually rotatably mounted on said carriage in mutually spaced and circular arrangement corresponding to said caxnming trackway, so as to ride upon said trackwayduring rotation of said carriageya hub affixed tothe-outer end portion 'of said valve stemymeans for rotating said carriage; a lost motion connection between said carriage and said hub, whereby said carriage may rotate momentarily without imparting rotation to said hub; alignment means between said carriage and saidhub for limiting rotative motion of the 'hub relative to the carriage; timing control means for operating said rotating means at and for predetermined time periods; and resilient means normally urging said valve plate toward said valve seating means.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the lost motion connection between the carriage'and the hub is provided by a spiral spring anchored at one of its ends to the hub and at the other of its ends to'the carriage.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein the said spiral spring is anchored to the carriage by a pin extending toward and into the vicinity of thehub; and wherein'the alignment means includes the said pin and a cooperating 8 pin afiixed to the hub and extending outwardly into the path of movement of the first-named pin.

4. The combination-recited'in claim 1, wherein the carriage rotating meanscompn'ses an electric motor and.drive mechanism connected therewith, and wherein the timing control means comprises electrical time control mecha- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,891 Duukelberg July 10, 1928 1,820,252 Shippy Aug. 25, 1931 1,865,604 Yarnall July 5, 1932 1,868,801 Munz July 26, 1932 2,003,739 Clark June 4, 1935 2,006,287 Wilbanks June 25, 1935 2,047,131 Riche July 7, 1936 2,235,287 Daniels Mar. 18, 1941 2,290,626 Bosomworth July 21, 1942 2,318,969 Reynolds May 11, 1943 2,545,425 Fischer Mar. 13,1951 

